DE102008037910B4 - Device for the production of a foam having cleaning jet, in particular shower head - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the production of a foam-containing cleaning jet, in particular shower head for a sanitary washing installation, with a fresh water inlet (8) and with a rotationally symmetrical mixing chamber (1, 4) connected to the fresh water inlet, which has an antechamber (4) narrowed in relation to the remaining mixing chamber (1) ) and at least one in the pre - chamber (4) opening throttle opening (6) which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the prechamber (4), for the formation of a sharp fresh water inlet jet, an inlet opening (10, 11) for foam - forming gas, a Characterized in that the baffle wall (2) formed by a conical surface with a rounded tip and the throttle opening (9) for the cleaning jet and a throttle opening (6) opposite, receiving the fresh water inlet jet and in the beam direction deepening baffle wall (2) 6) eccentrically spaced from the axis of rotation of the Mixing chamber (1, 4) arranged and provided for generating the fresh water inlet jet as a jet parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein the sharp fresh water inlet jet in the beam direction before the rounding with foaming on the conical surface of the baffle wall (2) impinges and the rounding then deflects the foamed jet.

Description

The invention relates to a device for generating a foam cleaning jet, in particular a shower head for a sanitary washing installation, with a fresh water inlet and connected to the fresh water inlet, rotationally symmetric mixing chamber, which comprises a comparison with the rest of the mixing chamber narrowed prechamber and at least one in the prechamber opening throttle opening, which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the prechamber, for the formation of a sharp fresh water inlet jet, an inlet opening for foam-forming gas, an outlet opening for the cleaning jet and the throttle opening opposite, the fresh water inlet jet receiving and recessed in the jet direction baffle.

Such a foam generating device is in the DE 10 2004 037 569 A1 described. When the baffle wall flows through the throttled fresh water inlet jet, a turbulent flow results in the mixing chamber. Through the gas inlet opening air is sucked in to foam. As a result of the low density of the foam, the flow velocity in the mixing chamber and thus the negative pressure relevant for the intake air quantity increases.

From the DE 102 27 954 B3 a device for foaming is known, which comprises a connected to a fresh water inlet mixing chamber. Fresh water enters the mixing chamber through throttle bores. The mixing chamber is connected to a container containing liquid additive. By manual operation of a metering device or a valve additive flows from the container into the mixing chamber. After throttled fresh water jets are triggered in the mixing chamber against a baffle, formed as a result of vortex effects foam, which emerges through an opening from the mixing chamber.

Another device for foam formation with admixture of a liquid additive is from the DE 10 2004 001 531 A1 out. A mixing chamber with a foam outlet is connected to a fresh water inlet and to a liquid detergent container. The mixing chamber also has an inlet opening for air. Foam forms in that liquid detergent is sucked out of the container and air through the opening into the mixing chamber when a vacuum is created in the container. A negative pressure results from the fact that in the mixing chamber, a throttled water jet is formed, which abuts against a baffle wall bounding the mixing chamber. The device can also be operated without foaming, with fresh water leaving the outlet opening without foam and additives.

From the US 2 724 583 A goes out of a connected to a hose device for mixing liquids, in which the fresh water is passed through a Venturi nozzle having inlets for detergent and air. With the device, the fresh water can be mixed with the detergent and form foam by adding air.

The devices described above are suitable for processing detergent relatively low viscosity, eg. For use in kitchen sinks.

It is the object of the invention to provide a new device of the type mentioned above, which in particular meets the requirements for shower installations better than the known devices and allows the processing of liquid detergents with different viscosity.

The task of this device according to the invention is characterized in that the baffle formed by a conical surface with a rounded tip and the throttle opening is arranged eccentrically at a distance from the axis of rotation of the mixing chamber and provided for generating the fresh water inlet jet as parallel to the axis of rotation beam, wherein the sharp fresh water inlet jet In the jet direction prior to the rounding, the foam surface strikes the conical surface of the baffle wall and the rounding subsequently deflects the foamed jet.

By means of the mixing chamber according to the invention, which has a narrow pre-chamber, it is possible to produce a stable vacuum which can be varied over a large pressure range, which allows the aspiration of liquid detergent with both high and low viscosity, whereby a strong foam flow suitable for washing can be produced. If the fresh water inlet jet struck offset to the impact surface seen in the concave impact surface, the baffle ensures not only a rebound of the flow but also for the formation of a circulating flow favoring deflection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the remaining mixing chamber on its side facing the prechamber on a concave, in particular spherical, surface for deflecting the reflected from the baffle surface fresh water inlet jet. Advantageously, this deflection surface favors the formation of a circulating in the mixing chamber in the chamber longitudinal direction, ie in the direction of the fresh water inlet jet, to Outlet opening for the cleaning jet leading flow.

Suitably, the mixing chamber is formed substantially rotationally symmetrical, wherein in particular the said throttle opening is arranged eccentrically at a distance from the axis of rotation (Z-axis) of the mixing chamber and is provided for generating the fresh water inlet jet as a jet parallel to the axis of rotation.

Suitably, the remaining mixing chamber is narrowed in the direction of the baffle surface and the outlet opening is preferably arranged adjacent to the baffle surface. Thus, the entire length of the remaining mixing chamber is used to form a circulating, each deflected at the end walls flow.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a round-cylindrical outlet channel adjoins the outlet opening of the mixing chamber, whose cylindrical axis preferably intersects the axis of rotation (Z-axis) of the mixing chamber, in particular intersects perpendicularly.

Suitably, the diameter of the mixing chamber at the outlet opening, the diameter of the base circle of said conical surface and the cylinder diameter of the outlet channel coincide with each other.

However, the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening adjoining the outlet channel is preferably smaller than the cross-sectional area of the outlet channel itself. The cross-sectional area of the outlet opening has in particular a semicircular surface section and a smaller surface section formed by a circular surface section, the circle radii of the surface sections being of equal size are and the circle center of the smaller area section, the radius line perpendicular to the diameter line of the larger, semi-circular area section divided into halves. The smaller surface portion is preferably facing the baffle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said throttle opening is formed in an exchangeable disk which delimits the mixing chamber and is arranged opposite the impact surface. This replaceable disc can be clamped in the housing of the device between a mixing chamber bounding the housing part and a screwed into the housing, the fresh water inlet forming insert.

By replacing discs with differently arranged throttle holes and different sizes, the radiant intensity of the respective device can be varied.

Advantageously, a plurality of throttle openings are formed in the disc, so that several fresh water inlet jets enter the mixing chamber, which run in particular parallel to the axis of rotation of the mixing chamber.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of gas inlet openings and in particular two gas inlet openings are provided with different diameters.

While it would be conceivable to regulate the intake air quantity by a device which varies the cross section of the inlet opening, this can be accomplished by blocking or opening one or the other or both gas inlet openings. For example, when closing the gas inlet opening with a larger diameter of the negative pressure in the mixing chamber increases significantly.

Appropriately are bore axes of two opposing gas inlet openings in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (Z-axis of the mixing chamber) level.

In the particularly preferred embodiment, an inlet opening for liquid detergent also opens into the pre-chamber.

A bore axis of this inlet opening can lie in the same plane as the bore axes of the gas inlet openings.

Suitably, the bore axis of the inlet opening for liquid detergent extends perpendicular to the bore axes of the gas inlet openings.

The inlet opening for liquid detergent is expediently in constant flow communication with a detergent container which can be coupled to the device. Under the influence of negative pressure in the mixing chamber, detergent can flow out of the detergent container, possibly against negative pressure arising in the detergent container, through the detergent inlet opening into the mixing chamber. When closing the Goseintrittsöffnung with larger diameter, z. B. by a user's finger, the negative pressure formed in the mixing chamber is sufficient to suck in detergent with relatively high viscosity from the container. If both gas inlet openings remain open, foaming is limited to foam containing only air bubbles. When closing both gas inlet openings occurs from the outlet opening foam-free but detergent-containing jet.

Particularly tough detergent can be processed with a closed large air inlet opening by alternately fast opening and closing of the small air inlet opening.

Preferably, a narrowing the flow cross-section of the detergent flow narrowing is provided between the detergent container and the detergent inlet opening, which allows a fine dosage of the detergent supply and prevents the passage of detergent into the mixing chamber at low negative pressure in the mixing chamber.

The device according to the invention combines extremely economical, environmentally friendly consumption of energy, fresh water and detergent with a high quality of the washing and rinsing process. The user can optionally by closing and opening the gas or air inlet openings a foam with detergent on the skin applying jet and a pure purge jet without detergent produce.

To cover the entire body with soothing, possibly fragrant detergent containing foam, it requires a very small amount of preheated fresh water. Despite the small amount of fresh water, the foam, which gently massages the skin, results in intensive cleansing. The amount of fresh water required to rinse the cleansing foam from the skin is also very small, so that the overall cleaning process can be carried out not only in a water-saving but also in a time-saving manner.

The device according to the invention has also proven particularly suitable for hair washing. By applying essentially only foam it is possible to prevent liquid containing detergent from getting into the eyes. The associated burning of the eyes is felt especially by children as painful.

As attachable to the device detergent containers come commercial vans, d. H. especially plastic bottles, into consideration. The plastic bottle can be coupled to the device via an adapter which has an internal thread corresponding to the closure lid of the plastic bottle. Due to the small passage cross-section at said restriction, there is no leakage of detergents from the container.

The device enables the generation of a cleaning jet which is strong in relation to the volume flow but which does not exert any unpleasant jet pressure on the body due to the low mass flow. Incidentally, the thickness of the cleaning jet could be suitably regulated by means of outlet openings which are adjustable in cross-section and / or the degree of opening of a fresh water valve.

It is understood that the device according to the invention is suitable for use not only in the private sector, but wherever sanitary facilities are installed, such. In hospitals, barracks, swimming pools etc.

When washing body by applying essentially only foam, the detergent does not reach the skin directly, which is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin. The device according to the invention can therefore be used advantageously in infant care.

During washing, foam flows directly from the shower head according to the invention onto the skin and does not have to be generated there first by rubbing off liquid containing foaming agent.

The device according to the invention, or parts of this device can also be used as a water jet pump for generating negative pressure, wherein a much greater negative pressure than in conventional water jet pumps is achieved.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic sectional view of a shower head according to the invention,

2 a detailed view of the shower head of 1 according to section line AA in 1 .

3 a detailed view according to letter B in 1 .

4 a sectional view along section line CC of 3 .

5 a detailed view of the sectional view of 3 .

6 a partial sectional view according to section line EE of 1 , and

7 a the functioning of the shower head of 1 explanatory illustration.

To an in 1 shown shower head of a (not shown otherwise) washing or Shower installation is a container 19 coupled for liquid detergent. A fresh water intake 8th is in a housing 23 screwed in the shower head and with a hose 21 connected. The shower head has an outlet opening 9 with exit holes 23 on.

Furthermore, the shower head comprises a disk 5 with throttle holes 6 , The disc 5 is in the shower head housing 23 at one the hose 21 remote end of the fresh water inlet 8th between the case 23 and a combination 7 pinched from a brass ring and a rubber ring.

To the disc 5 closes a pre-chamber 4 in the form of a straight circular cylinder. On the lateral surface of the circular cylinder open into the antechamber 4 a small air opening 10 and a big air opening 11 one. As 1 and 2 can be seen, there is also an inlet for liquid detergent.

The antechamber 4 forming, straight circular cylinder has the disc plane of the throttle disc 5 as an end face up. Their throttle bores arranged close to each other 6 lie on quadrants II and III ( 2 ) one with the throttle plate 5 coinciding level. Mutually perpendicular, falling in the throttle plate plane axes X and Y intersect on the cylinder axis (Z-axis) of the right circular cylinder. The X-axis runs parallel to bore axes of the air inlet openings 10 and 11 and the Y axis parallel to a bore axis of the detergent inlet. All openings open into the antechamber 4 at a lower distance from each other.

To the antechamber 4 closes coaxially to the antechamber 4 a vortex chamber 1 on, like the antechamber 4 partially in the form of a right circular cylinder, but wider and longer than the antechamber 4 is. The antechamber 4 forms with the vortex chamber 1 a mixing chamber. The antechamber 4 opposite end face of the vortex chamber 1 has the shape of a straight circular cone surface 2 with a rounded tip on. The Z axis coincides with the cone axis of the circular cone surface 2 together.

At the antechamber 4 facing the end, the vortex chamber 1 a spherical face 3 on.

The outlet opening 9 , which are adjacent to the circular cone surface 2 on the antechamber 4 opposite end of the vortex chamber 1 in the vortex chamber 1 includes a straight circular cylinder whose cylinder axis Y1 intersects the Z axis and in the area of the base circle of the circular cone surface 2 lies. The Y1 axis is parallel to the Y axis.

The diameter of the vortex chamber 1 in one of the antechambers 4 opposite end portion, the cylinder diameter of said circular cylinder of the outlet opening 9 and the diameter of the base circle of the circular cone surface 2 agree. One of the pre-chamber facing half of the circular cylinder of the outlet opening 9 cuts the cylindrical inner surface of the vortex chamber 1 ,

In the in 6 The section shown is the outlet opening 9 visible in cross section. One of the antechamber 4 facing semicircular portion has a radius R. The double radius corresponds to the diameter of the vortex chamber 1 at the point concerned. The largest chord of the section, equal to 2R, is parallel to the X axis. A circular surface portion of the cross-sectional surface facing away from the pre-chamber likewise has the radius R. Its center of the circle divides the radius R, which is perpendicular to the diameter line, of the semicircular section into halves.

At the inlet for liquid detergent is followed by a 3 separately shown valve housing 12 on, that with an inflow pipe 13 for the liquid detergent is connected. That to the valve housing 12 coaxial inflow pipe 13 has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve housing 12 is.

The valve housing 12 facing the end of the inflow pipe 13 is conical with small acute-angled notches 17 educated. The scores 17 are in the sectional view of 4 in plan view and in the side view of 5 visible in cross section. At the front end of the inflow pipe 13 lies against the inflow pipe 13 a ball 15 whose diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical bore of the valve housing 12 is. Thus, under the ball creates a small, air-containing space.

A commercial, the container 19 forming standard bottle has a bottle cap 18 on, between two on the valve body 12 fixed bolts is mounted, with the bore of the valve body 12 in conjunction with liquid detergent 20 in the container 19 comes.

The following is with reference to 7 explains the operation of the device described above.

According to 7 shape the throttle holes 6 in the disk 5 sharp fresh water entrance rays, which are approximately parallel to the Z-axis, first through the antechamber 4 and then the vortex chamber 1 through to the baffle 2 reach. The trained as a conical surface impact surface 2 Throws a large part of the volume of the throttled, compact fresh water inlet jets in the form of a strong swirling flow towards the antechamber 4 back. The vortex-containing flow in turn is through the spherical surfaces 3 at the end of the vortex chamber 1 towards the outlet 9 diverted.

Negative pressure created by the flow provides for the suction of air through the inlet openings 10 and 11 through and possibly for the suction of liquid detergent. The air supply causes the formation of foam bubbles and thus a reduction in the density of the flowing material, which is accompanied by a strong increase in the flow rate. This in turn increases the negative pressure, the intake of air and thus the foaming.

Finally, flows through the outlet opening 9 and the hole 22 through a foam having jet, which has sufficient radiance, without acting sharply cut on the skin.

The user of the shower head has the option of the air inlet opening 11 to be opened by hand or kept closed. With open air inlet opening 11 the negative pressure falls in the from antechamber 4 and swirl chamber 1 formed mixing chamber and the shower head is unable to leave the container 19 liquid detergent 20 to suck. Will the big opening 11 z. B. closed by a finger, the negative pressure in the mixing chamber increases and detergent flows through the intake manifold 13 through into the mixing chamber. With open large air inlet opening 11 it comes even without liquid detergent for foaming, because a strong acceleration of the foam jet of water and air occurs and maintains a negative pressure. The size of the foam bubbles keeps the diameter of the air inlet openings 10 . 11 whether. The larger the diameter, the larger are the foam bubbles.

In the event that the user has both air inlets 10 . 11 holds closed, resulting in a discharge jet, which does not contain foam, but liquid detergent.

For detergents with high toughness, foaming can be favored by the user having the small air inlet 10 alternately closed and kept open.

The very small annular gap between the ball 15 and the bore wall of the valve housing 12 prevents unwanted penetration of liquid detergent into the mixing chamber as well as unwanted entry of air into the detergent. Furthermore, the narrow gap ensures an economical but sufficient detergent dosage.

Claims (19)

Device for the production of a foam-containing cleaning jet, in particular shower head for a sanitary washing installation, with a fresh water inlet ( 8th ) and with a rotationally symmetrical mixing chamber connected to the fresh water inlet ( 1 . 4 ), one opposite the other mixing chamber ( 1 ) narrowed antechamber ( 4 ) and at least one in the antechamber ( 4 ) opening throttle opening ( 6 ), which is substantially smaller than the diameter of the antechamber ( 4 ), for the formation of a sharp fresh water inlet jet, an inlet ( 10 . 11 ) for foam-forming gas, an outlet opening ( 9 ) for the cleaning jet and one of the throttle opening ( 6 ) opposite, receiving the fresh water inlet jet and in the beam direction deepening baffle wall ( 2 ), characterized in that the baffle wall ( 2 ) formed by a conical surface with a rounded tip and the throttle opening ( 6 ) eccentrically spaced from the axis of rotation of the mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) and is provided for generating the fresh water inlet jet as a jet parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein the sharp fresh water inlet jet in the beam direction before the rounding with foaming on the conical surface of the baffle ( 2 ) and the rounding subsequently deflects the foamed jet. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the remaining mixing chamber ( 1 ) on her the antechamber ( 4 ) facing a concave surface ( 3 ) for deflecting the from the baffle ( 2 ) has reflected back fresh water inlet jet. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the remaining mixing chamber ( 1 ) in the direction of the impact surface ( 2 ) narrowed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outlet opening ( 9 ) adjacent to the baffle ( 2 ) is arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at the outlet opening ( 9 ) connects a round cylindrical outlet channel. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the cylinder axis of the outlet channel, the axis of rotation (Z-axis) of the mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) cuts. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the diameter of the mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) at the exit opening ( 9 ), the diameter of the base circle of the conical surface ( 2 ) and the cylinder diameter of the outlet channel coincide with each other. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the outlet opening ( 9 ) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the exit channel. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the outlet opening ( 9 ) has a semicircular surface portion and a smaller, formed by a circular surface portion surface portion, wherein the circle radii of the surface portions are the same size and the circle center of the smaller surface portion halves the radius line perpendicular to the diameter line of the larger, semi-circular surface portion. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the smaller surface portion of the baffle surface ( 2 ) is facing. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the throttle opening ( 6 ) in a mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) limiting, opposite the baffle ( 2 ), exchangeable disc ( 5 ) is formed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a plurality of gas inlet openings ( 10 . 11 ) are provided with different diameters. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that bore axes of two, opposing gas inlet openings ( 10 . 11 ) in a to the axis of rotation (Z-axis) of the mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) vertical plane lie. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that (in the pre-chamber 4 ) further opens an inlet opening for liquid detergent. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that a bore axis of the inlet opening for liquid detergent in the same plane as the bore axes of the gas inlet openings ( 10 . 11 ) lies. Apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the bore axis of the inlet opening for liquid detergent perpendicular to the bore axes of the gas inlet openings ( 10 . 11 ) stands. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the inlet opening for liquid detergent in fluid communication with an attachable to the device detergent container ( 19 ). Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that detergent ( 20 ) from the detergent container ( 19 ) under the influence of negative pressure in the mixing chamber ( 1 . 4 ) through the detergent inlet opening into the storage chamber ( 4 ) flows. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that between the detergent container ( 19 ) and the detergent inlet opening a narrowing the flow cross section of the detergent stream narrowing ( 14 - 17 ) is provided.

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